Parents think ahead to how their child will do when moving to a new class, a new school, or a new environment. Children do not typically have difficulty adjusting socially. Some children need time to adjust to a new group. You can foster new peer relationships by: • Encouraging your child to get to know his/her peers

• Helping to facilitate/set up social events (having a friend over, going to the park with friends…)
• Listening if your child needs to share about what is going on with friends.
• Teaching your child what to do when a social event occurs. If your child is asked to play with a friend on the playground, but his is playing elsewhere, teach your child that it is appropriate to say, “I’m playing kickball right now, but I would like to play with you later.” It can be hard for a child to interact in different social settings.

Academically your child will likely perform how s/he performed in the Montessori class. So, if the child was a slow worker, she will likely be a slow worker in a different environment. Children are incredibly adaptable and can function in a wide variety of environments. Teachers generally report that Montessori children tend to be very driven and able to complete work on their own. That is, the teacher can present a multi-step task and the Montessori child will complete the task without multiple reminders or needing a step-by-step process from the teacher.

Students report that they are able to complete tasks assigned by the teacher but they tend to be bored, rather than challenged by the whole group setting. Students typically follow whole group class settings with little difficulty.

© Ingrid Weland, Pen to Paper